Gage, dispatched the redcoats to break up an illegal town. The failures at the battle of lexington and bunker hill in june of 1775 damaged gage s military reputation. The battles of lexington and concord digital history. Major general thomas gage was commanderinchief of british forces in. Gage which has determined him to order the officers now at water town together with those from cape ann to be confined in northampton gaol. It is also known as the battle of noddles island, battle of hog island and the battle of the chelsea estuary. General gage had all along been making preparations to use military force against the colonists.
Still, british troops were on the march towards nearby concord via lexington and it was revere and his famous ride that was immortalized in american history. The royal governor of massachusetts, general thomas gage, had forbidden town meetings from taking place more than once a year. He served as president of the second continental congress and was the first and third governor of the commonwealth of massachusetts. Full text of john barker diary the british in boston, 17741776 see other formats the british in boston london. When gage heard that the colonists had stockpiled guns and powder in concord. In april, general thomas gage 17211787 received secret orders to arrest the. From george washington to lieutenant general thomas gage, 19 a.
Why did general gage send troops to lexington and concord. Bg james moore, commanding general article the united. There was a decorated general with a heart of gold that likened him to all the stories he told of past battles, won and lost and legends of. The battles were fought on april 19, 1775 in middlesex county, province of massachusetts bay, within the towns of lexington, concord, lincoln, menotomy presentday arlington, and cambridge.
In 1775, he was replaced as the british military commanderinchief by general william howe. On the night of april 18, 1775, general gage dispatched 700 soldiers to capture colonial leaders and supplies at concord. Gage assigned colonel francis smith as officer in charge, with major pitcairn as smiths second. First, he suspected rightly that military weapons had been hidden there by rebellionminded colonists. From george washington to lieutenant general thomas gage. How the british gun control program precipitated the american revolution. On april 18, he ordered british troops to march against concord and. On may 24, three days after british general thomas gage sent four sloops to tiny grape island near the town of weymouth to pick up some recently harvested hay from the loyalist elijah leavitt, the massachusetts committee of safety ordered all livestock and. Full text of continental congress at york, pennsylvania and. On april 18, 1775, british troops march out of boston on a mission to confiscate the american arsenal at concord and to capture patriot leaders samuel adams and john hancock, known to. There were two reasons why general thomas gage who was the governor of massachusetts at the time sent british troops to lexington and concord in april of 1775. April 18, 1775 general gage orders 700 british soldiers.
Armed conflict begins boundless us history lumen learning. Who sent troops to lexington and concord to capture stores. War of the rebellion, spanishamerican war, philippine insurrection, and all old wars, with dates. James moore assumed duties as commanding general of the 593rd expeditionary sustainment command june 14, 2017. A proclamation by british general thomas gage, june 12, 1775. Pdf how the british gun control program precipitated the. General thomas gage 10 march 171819 2 april 1787 was a british army general officer and colonial official best known for his many years of service in north america, including his role as british commanderinchief in the early days of the american revolution. Prior to this, he served as the colonial governor of massachusetts bay.
Gage sent the troops to concord for these two reasons. The battle of chelsea creek was the second military engagement of the boston campaign of the american revolutionary war. Their clandestine mission was to capture rebel weapons hidden in concord. In 1755 gages regiment was sent to north america as part of general. April 18, 1775 general gage orders 700 british soldiers to. Another middle school text passes on the legend while technically avoiding a falsehood.
Beginnings to 1877 houghton mifflin harcourt, 2012, 114. September 25 this day during the american revolution u s. Gage had dispatched a force to concord because he had heard the colonists were amassing weapons in the town. Full text of john barker diary the british in boston, 1774. General howe colonel arnold general gage get the answers you need, now.
The battles of lexington and concord were the first military engagements of the american revolutionary war. Apr 15, 2020 on april 18, 1775, british troops march out of boston on a mission to confiscate the american arsenal at concord and to capture patriot leaders samuel adams and john hancock, known to be hiding at. Jeffrey buchanan speaks with cnbc s contessa brewer. General thomas gage, the military governor of massachusetts and commander of about 3,000 british troops stationed in boston, received special orders from william legge, earl of dartmouth, the american colonial secretary of state. From 1763 to 1775 he served as commanderinchief of the british forces in. The poor sick and wounded prisoners fare very hard, are. They received reports of firing at lexington, and were not sure whether to wait until they could be reinforced by troops from towns nearby, or to stay and defend the town, or to move east and greet the british army from superior terrain.
General gage was understated in his casualty report to london. From george washington to lieutenant general thomas gage, 11 a. Learn vocabulary, terms, and more with flashcards, games, and other study tools. Early in 1775, as royal authority collapsed in massachusetts, general thomas gage c. When he dispatched the redcoats to break up an illegal town meeting in salem, 3000 armed americans appeared in response, and the british retreated. At forty years of age in 1775, paul revere was a skilled artisan and a new england yankee to the very bottom of his boston riding boots, as one of his many biographers depicts him. There was a decorated general with a heart of gold that likened him to all the stories he told of past battles won and lost, and legends of old a seasoned veteran in his own. How did the people of lexington and concord learn about general gages planned surprise attack on concord. General gage sent out troops to lexington to capture colonial leaders john hancock and samuel adams why did general gage send troops to concord. The pennsylvania journal reported on june 21, 1775, that general gage himself recorded at least one hundred killed while other sources said more than three hundred. Once in concord, colonel smith, heading up the redcoat column, split his men up. Nov 30, 2011 for what reason did general gage move his troops to boston after the battles of lexington and concord.
Why did general gage dispatch troops from boston to concord on the evening of april 18, 1775. On the night of april 18, 1775, general thomas gage ordered a handpicked assembly of 800 troops to gather on the shores of back bay, in boston. The suprise attack by george washington on trenton was not. Thomas gage sent a force from boston to destroy american rebel military stores at concord, massachusetts, fighting broke out between militia and british troops at lexington and concord on april 19, 1775. General gage stationed 3,500 troops in boston, and from there he ordered periodic raids on towns.
Revere was a boston silversmith that helps spread word that the british were coming during the battle of lexington and concord british side general thomas gage general gage was the royal governor of massachusetts and commander in chief of the british troops in the colonies. The first american revolution began as resistance to. Full text of continental congress at york, pennsylvania. Gage was to remove the rebels stored weapons housed in concord, and capture. The militiamen of concord and lincoln, in response to the raised alarm, had mustered in concord.
The battles of lexington and concord, 1775 ap us history study. The royally appointed governor, thomas gage, had been granted broadly expanded powers, and the british had sent thousands of troops to boston. As the troops set out, a signal sent by the patriots appeared in the steeple of bostons old north church. Battles of lexington and concord article khan academy. The british troops were going to concord to seize it when they were held up by the militiamen at lexington. And the tories had been taking note of who the insurgents were and passing that information on to general gage in boston. His accounts of cer tain clashes that occurred in boston between the people and the troops are interesting reading if compared with american versions of the same epi sodes. This battle was fought on may 27 and 28, 1775, on chelsea creek and on salt marshes, mudflats, and islands of boston harbor, northeast of the boston peninsula. This event became the beginning of the american revolution. General gage planned a surprise attack on an ammunition storage site in concord.
Patriot raid on fort ticonderoga warfare history network. The animals in other coastal areas had been moved inland by their owners. In the spring of 1775, general thomas gage, the british governor of. September 25, 1775 the battle of chelsea creek was the second military engagement of the boston campaign of the american revolutionary war. The order was issues to british lieutenant colonel francis smith on the afternoon of april 18, 1775, just few hours before the midnight ride began. He sent a detachment to seize military sources in concord and arrest two of the. Paul revere warns patriots of their impending arrival. On may 24, three days after british general thomas gage sent four sloops to tiny grape island near the town of weymouth to pick up some recently harvested hay from the loyalist elijah leavitt, the massachusetts committee of safety ordered all livestock and hay removed from nearby noddles and hog island. January 12, 1736 october 8, 1793 was an american merchant, statesman, and prominent patriot of the american revolution. In april of 1775, general gage ordered british troops to concord for two reasons. While gage served as military governor in massachusetts 1774 1775 he sent troops to lexington and concord april 1775 to reveal ammunition caches and to seize samuel adams, a leading revolutionary agent, who ended up escaping. The british increased the number of british troops in boston. For what reason did general gage move his troops to boston after the battles of lexington and concord.
From george washington to lieutenant general thomas gage, 19 august 1775. General thomas gage general gage was the royal governor of massachusetts and commander in chief of the british troops in the colonies. He is remembered for his large and stylish signature on the united states declaration of independence. From behind trees, houses, and stone walls, militiamen fired at the troops, who burned houses along the way and often counterattacked. The march back to boston, 20 miles away, became a fierce, running battle all through the day. Battle of lexington and concord when general thomas gage. Jan 12, 2008 gen thomas gage, in charge of the british troops deployed in boston, had learned that the colonists had a large weapons stach in concord. For what reason did general gage move his troops to boston. But general thomas gage, commander of british troops in boston, had been. Hostages to fortune book by peter c newman official. On the night of april 18, gage sent 700 british soldiers to concord to seize patriot. Under his providence, those who influence the councils of america, and all the.
Full text of john barker diary the british in boston. The prisoners held by the british in boston included a number of american soldiers captured at the battle of bunker hill, some of whom were severely wounded, and several civilians who were suspected of spying for the patriots or otherwise assisting them. So, when the troops arrived that morning, they had specific places to search. Jun, 2019 thomas gage march 10, 1718 or 1719april 2, 1787 was a british army general who commanded troops during the beginning of the american revolution. Facing an impending rebellion, british general thomas gage decided to seize. Gen thomas gage, in charge of the british troops deployed in boston, had learned that the colonists had a large weapons stach in concord. Revere reaches lexington about midnight and warns sam adams and john hancock who are hiding out there. The next morning, adams dispatched a rider to tell rhode island, connecticut and new york of the event. On the night of april 18, 1775, he dispatched nearly 1,000 troops from boston.
Full text of john barker diary the british in boston, 17741776. Get an answer for why did general gage send british troops to lexington and concord in 1775. Who sent troops to lexington and concord to capture stores of. Full text of continental congress at york, pennsylvania and york county in the revolution see other formats. Battle of chelsea creek project gutenberg selfpublishing. General thomas gage was a british general stationed in boston massachusetts during the american revolution. Dispatch is an american indieroots band founded in 1996 in middlebury, vermont. In the fall of 1775, he left for england, then died in 1787. They found no british troops there but plenty of livestock. Why did general gage send british troops to lexington and. Gage, who was the supreme british commander in north america, was headquartered in boston and tasked with the unenviable job of enforcing a blockade of the towns harbor. A few days before the battle, warren and general artemas ward, commander of the besieging forces, inspected noddles island and hog island, which lay to the northeast of boston, and east of charlestown. Thomas gage, british general who successfully commanded all british.
General thomas gage 10 march 171819 2 april 1787 was a british army general officer. I understand that the officers engaged in the cause of liberty, and their country, who by the fortune of war, have fallen into your hands have been thrown indiscriminately, into a common gaol appropriated for felonsthat no consideration has been had for those of the most respectable rank, when languishing with wounds and sickness. Militia from neighboring towns repeatedly ambushed retreating british soldiers. Orders from general thomas gage to march to concord paul revere. The quickly massing militias caused the british to fail in their mission. April 19, the troops reached the town of lexington, five miles east of concord. American revolution 05271775 battles battle of chelsea. Get an answer for why did general cage send british troops to lexington and concord in 1775. Paul reveres other riders journal of the american revolution. Worse yet, relations with the provincial assemblies in all american colonies were rapidly degenerating. Reports of these clashes reached the second continental congress, which met in philadelphia. Humphrey milford oxford university press a urrthi officer, ij6o the british in boston being the diary of lieutenant john barker of the kings own regiment from november 15, 1774 to may 31, 1776.
Orders from general thomas gage to march to concord. At dawn the british reached the town of lexington, just east of concord. General gage would send out regiments of british soldiers in boston out to lexington and concord. Aug 14, 2014 and the tories had been taking note of who the insurgents were and passing that information on to general gage in boston.
The battles of lexington and concord resulted in 273 total casualties for the. What was the consequence of the mingo indians massacre of the french troops. One of the jailed civilians, john leach, wrote in his journal for 19 aug. Following the battle, general gage offered a pardon to all who would lay down their arms, and return to the. Battle of lexington and concord when general thomas gage received orders from from history ap us hist at pelham memorial high school. For general thomas gage, 1775 was shaping up to be a disastrous year.
General gage, colonels smith and clark, all come in for caustic comment. Below is the transcript of the very order given by general cage gave to his troops that revere became aware of and rode to concord to prevent. General gage orders 700 british soldiers to concord to destroy the colonists weapons depot. Building and maintaining the most complete and sophisticated reference on the world wide web for the u.
By dispatch, about a general who realizes he doesnt need to fight anymore so he tells his to troops to go home to their family because they are too young to fight and need to live their lives. Bg moore is a native of philadelphia, pennsylvania, and a distinguished. Summary of events of the spanishamerican war source. John singleton copley paints and portrays gage as a strong leader, which he was, and looking closely at the background british soldiers are lined up precisely. Jan, 2014 3 three days after british regulars marched on lexington and concord, the massachusetts provincial congress authorized the collection of.
In subsequent months, revere would carry messages to other places. Firearms friendly gunfriendly news and information. General gage sent 700 men to seize munitions stored by the colonial militia at concord. First shots of war american memory timeline classroom. General gage sent out troops to lexington to capture colonial leaders john hancock and samuel adams. Lexington was simply a town along the way to concord. Chad urmston, braddigan, and pete francis heimbold, who were all attending middlebury college in middlebury, vermont comprised the bands lineup throughout their entire career. Bar stories able ebenezer brewing company merrimack nh. James barrett colonel of concord militia i, james barrett of concord, colonel of a regiment of militia in the county of middlesex, do testify and say, that on wednesday morning last about daybreak i was informed of the approach of a number of the regular troops to the town of concord, where were some magazines belonging to this province. Thomas gage march 10, 1718 or 1719april 2, 1787 was a british army general who commanded troops during the beginning of the american revolution. The band originated in the early 1990s as one fell swoop, but changed their name to dispatch in 1996. In his account, revere devoted only one short sentence to his nowmythic ride.
1239 481 674 988 1623 610 1427 286 72 344 816 831 995 609 1628 319 1368 1419 1290 1542 1448 1094 431 111 418 1217 1463 699 1491 451 228 40 178 773 977 167 781 141 394 427 1449 1072 745